Tag Archives: Stove Repair

Troubleshooting Stove Problems Related to the Thermostat

Many problems with your stove can be traced back to the thermostat or other components related to temperature regulation. If your stove or range has an unreliable temperature, your Stove Problemsthermostat is most likely to blame.

The thermostat controls the oven temperature by sensing the current heat level and then cycling the heat flow on or off as necessary to maintain the desired setting. Read on for some insights as to what may be causing your temperature control issues.

Light Stays On

Your stove thermostat is connected to an oven-cycling light that turns on and off as the temperature is regulated. Seeing this light either continually turning on and off, or coming on and remaining lit for a long time are both indicators of thermostat problems.

If the oven door is not shut completely (or if the oven is repeatedly being opened and closed), the light will remain on to maintain the heat cycle. If neither of these is the reason for your issue, you may need to replace the thermostat in your range.

Burned or Uncooked Foods

If your meatloaf or brownies are burning well before the end of the cooking time indicated by your recipes, you may have thermostat problems. In this case, the sensor causes the heat cycle to remain on, which makes the oven get hotter than the temperature you have set. This results in the contents burning on the outside before the inside is fully cooked.

On the other hand, if your foods are coming out undercooked when they should be done, the thermostat is not cycling the heat on to reach the correct temperature. With this type of problem, you may see the oven cycling light stay on because the set temperature is never reached.

Calibrating the Thermostat

You may need to replace your thermostat. However, in some cases, you may be able to calibrate it to register the proper setting. First, place a thermometer in the oven (use an over thermometer — other types may melt and make a mess) and set the temperature to 350 degrees. Wait a half hour, then check the thermometer reading. If the indicated temperature is not 350 degrees, calibration may fix the problem.

This process involves accessing the oven control panel to tighten or loosen the calibration screw to adjust the temperature setting. With some oven models, however, calibration isn’t possible, and instead the sensor must be replaced.

Because your range runs on electricity, you should never attempt any repairs inside the control panel, as you may be seriously injured. An experienced appliance technician can perform a thermostat calibration for you quickly and easily, or if that’s not the problem, the tech can determine what other issues your stove may have.

In Bountiful, Utah, and the Salt Lake City area, Complete Appliance Repair is your locally owned and operated home appliance specialist. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to fix problems with your range, oven or stove.

Cleaning the Pilot Light on Your Gas Stove

Cleaning the pilot light system on your gas stove is important for safety as well as efficient operation. Although the pilot assembly is both simple and highly effective, its disruption can Pilot Lightlead to difficulties in lighting the stove. In extreme cases, it can also lead to dangerous natural gas leaks. Periodic cleaning of the assembly will not only help your gas range last longer, it will ensure its safety and reliability.

How the Pilot Light System Works

A natural gas pilot light is a tiny flame that burns continuously for the purpose of igniting the burners of your stove. These pilots operate without the need for electricity, allowing you to use the stove during power outages. Depending on your range, you may have a single pilot flame feeding all the burners, or you may have two separate pilots. When you turn the knob to light a burner, gas flows up through a perforated tube, known as the flash tube, into an ignitor (responsible for the clicking sound a burner makes before lighting), lighting the gas at the burner. Voila, you can now heat your water or cook your soup.

Signs that Your Pilot Assembly Needs Cleaning

As simple and efficient as this system is, it can easily become dirty or clogged.
Food particles and grease drip into the burners during use, becoming trapped in the perforations of the flash tubes and ignitor. Dirt and dust sticks to the greasy buildup and, over time, can clog all or part of the system components. Burners take longer to light, requiring more and more clicks of the ignitor. Eventually, the burner simply won’t light at all. Because this happens gradually, you may not even notice this increasing difficulty. In most cases, the problem will be more pronounced at the burners you use the most.

How to Clean the Pilot Light Assembly

Unplug the electrical cord to the range, if it has one, and lift the top to provide clear access to pilot assemblies. Turn the stove’s gas valve to off and allow the pilot assemblies to cool completely. Use a soft brush (an old toothbrush works well) to gently remove the debris from ignitors, flash tubes and pilot orifice itself. Gently insert a thin wire or sewing needle into the pilot orifice, the holes in the ignitors and flash tubes as well as the burners themselves, agitating it slightly to dislodge debris. Use canned air to remove any remaining bits. Be sure to clean up any dislodged particles that have fallen below the burners. Turn the gas back on and re-light the pilots, monitoring them for several minutes to be sure everything is working correctly. Test each burner for proper operation before closing the top.

Some newer model gas ranges no longer use a pilot system, using an electronic ignition instead. These systems are typically sealed, requiring professional service and repair. Natural gas can be dangerous to work with, posing risks of combustion and inhalation. In the Salt Lake City area, Complete Appliance Repair specializes in appliance service, repair, maintenance and installation. Contact them today for professional maintenance on your gas range, including cleaning the pilot light and checking for other potential problems.